Just a quick heads-up: this article contains very minor spoilers for the movie Mercy. If you prefer to go in knowing nothing at all, you might want to be careful while reading!
The new film Mercy, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, uses news broadcasts as part of its unique storytelling style. Fans of Chris Pratt might recognize a familiar face among the news anchors: Jay Jackson, best known for playing Perd Hapley in Parks and Recreation. It’s a fun surprise for viewers and even more interesting to learn that Pratt himself suggested casting Jackson in the role.
As a fan of the show, I was excited to ask Chris Pratt about his character in Mercy when I interviewed him and Kali Reis last week for the film’s virtual press event. The movie brings Pratt back to work with some familiar faces, and he jokingly claimed responsibility for the idea of bringing back the iconic Perd Hapley, even though they don’t share any scenes together.
Seeing Perd Hapley alongside Jay Jackson was a special moment, like a hidden treat for fans. I immediately thought, ‘We have to find a role for him if we can!’ We were thrilled to be able to include that as a fun surprise.
Perd Hapley is a TV personality from the show Parks and Recreation, set in the town of Pawnee, Indiana. He’s famous for being a bit clueless! He always takes things at face value, rarely shows emotion, and can be surprisingly direct. Though he’s a supporting character, Perd is often behind some of the show’s funniest scenes.
Before becoming an actor, Jay Jackson spent years working as a reporter in Los Angeles. He’s now known for playing news anchors and reporters on TV and in movies, starting with a role on Dexter in 2007. He’s appeared in shows like It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The Orville, and Supergirl, as well as films like Fast Five and Battleship. Fans of Parks and Recreation will be especially excited to see a connection between his characters from that show, Perd Hapley and Andy Dwyer, in a recent project.
Besides the reunion of Chris Pratt and Jay Jackson, the film Mercy also brings together Chris Sullivan – known for playing Taserface in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – and director Timur Bekmambetov. This marks their first collaboration since the 2008 hit Wanted.
Pratt was full of praise for his colleague, pointing out that Sullivan’s contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe often go unnoticed, likely because his extensive makeup obscured his performance. Pratt explained,
It definitely crossed my mind, as I worked closely with and became friends with all three of them. Chris Sullivan is fantastic as Taserface, and it’s incredible how unrecognizable he is in the role. He’s a very accomplished actor, so people often recognize him, but they might not realize he played Taserface because he transformed so much for the part. He’s truly a talented actor and a huge asset to the film.
Pratt says reconnecting with the director after almost twenty years was great, and it all came down to having a good working relationship. A lot has happened in his career since he appeared alongside James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie in the movie Wanted, but he enjoyed working with the director before and that’s what made him want to do this new film. He finished by saying,
It’s been 17 years since I last worked with Timur, and it made me realize something about this industry. You often find yourself wanting to collaborate with people you genuinely enjoyed working with before. If the connection wasn’t there, you probably won’t work with them again. So, for actors just starting out, my advice is simple: be kind. A good attitude is a valuable asset, because there are many talented people, and being pleasant to work with can really open doors.
Frankly, that’s a lesson we could all put to use in our lives.
I’m so excited for Mercy to hit theaters this weekend! And it’s not just the story that has me hooked – the cast is incredible, featuring talents like Rebecca Ferguson, Annabelle Wallis, Kenneth Choi, and Kylie Rogers. I can’t wait to see them all shine!
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2026-01-22 16:09